KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Ulster County Executive Michael Hein has submitted a resolution to the county Legislature that would ensure the county takes over the entire local cost of the Safety Net welfare program by 2015.

The resolution was reviewed, but not voted on, by the Legislature's Ways and Means Committee on Thursday.

Hein has said for some time that the county will take over the non-state portion of Safety Net costs -- currently paid by the city of Kingston and the county's 20 towns -- by 2015, but he's pressing for legislative assurance of the move in response to state Assemblyman Kevin Cahill tying the issue to the county's requested two-year extension of a sales tax.

Cahill, D-Kingston, blocked the tax extension -- which would allow the county to continue charging 4 percent instead of 3 percent in 2014 and 2015 -- in the final hours of the just-concluded state Assembly session. The bill could, however, be taken up again later this year in Albany.

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The state Senate has approved the tax extension.

The county resolution to takeover Safety Net costs would be self-voiding if the tax extension has not been given state approval by the end of November.

The county is covering one-third of the local Safety Net cost, $1.97 million, this year. The total is to be two-thirds, $4.07 million, in 2014; and the entire cost, $6.9 million, in 2015.

Cahill also is demanding the county take over from the city and towns the cost of running elections. The resolution submitted by Hein does not address that issued, but Legislator David Donaldson said he believes the Safety Net measure alone will satisfy Cahill.

"I talked to Assemblyman Cahill earlier today ... (and) he did say to me he felt comfortable if they codify the Safety Net," said Donaldson, D-Kingston. "Then he would feel comfortable that at least that 1 percent (added tax) is going toward something that he supports."

Hein said on Thursday that "it's the county's obligation to take over Safety Net, but we have to do it in a responsible manner," he said.

County Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Gerentine, R-Marlboro, said a committee vote on the Safety Net will be scheduled after it clears the Social Services Committee next month.

Cahill was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.

Hein has said the loss of revenue from the added tax would cost the county $22 million per year, and Deputy County Executive Kenneth Crannell said on Thursday that steps are being taken to reduce county expenses in anticipation of that loss.

Crannell said the cuts include reducing travel authorizations and notifying eight temporary county employees that their 90-day contracts will not be renewed after this week.

"We obviously face a very dire fiscal situation, and the administration has taken some immediate action to reduce spending," Crannell said.